1971 was an exciting year for Black America. Soul Train debuted on national TV, described by NPR’s Sam Sanders as show with a very simple idea – “Very pretty, cool people, mostly Black, dancing to very good music, also mostly Black, and a very charismatic host with colorful suits and a perfect Afro as your guide”.
Earlier that year, at a spring Council on Foundations meeting in Montreal, Canada, eight pretty cool Black foundation executives (Ronald Gault, Bryant George, Harriet Michel, Carl McCall, Ernie Osborne, Roland Johnson, James Joseph and Eldridge McMillian) decided to challenge the board nomination process due to lack of Black representation on the governing body.
ABFE’s founding members organized a like‐minded group of people in philanthropy because they recognized the urgent need to bring diversity, inclusion and equity to philanthropy. A simple idea, that has had life-changing effects on the philanthropic sector and Black communities.
Please join us November 17th from 6:30-10:30 pm Est to celebrate our founding trailblazers and 50 years of ABFE accomplishments.